Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-08

the nrm, and Is now IN general use through
the country. 1t is in all respects mos
useful tool, combining strength. convenience
and durability
Business is very good with u.s. said Mr..
Gay in answer to the inquiry of the journal
man, shut not as good as it will be later in
the fall"
"This is an Augusta industry is it not
eyes entirely so. We have been in BUSH
ness nine years now, and during that time
we have had only Augusti boys in our es-
Enlistment During our busy seasons we
have usually employed between twenty-five
and thirty hands "
"Of course you consider your screw driver
the best one on the market 2"
"Well yes we feel quite confident that we
have the very best tool of this character that
has ever been invented. Its a vast improve
ment en- the old drivers in two important
particulars-strength and convenience. The
increase of strength is obtained by having
the strain come upon the teeth of a Steel
Ratchet, which is inserted into the Lara
part of the handle, and strongly supported.
The diameter OF this ratchet is larger than the
diameter of the wood at the ferule,
which is the weakest point in a common
driver. This invention gives US steel in
place of wood for increased strength. The
action is very direct and simple, and will
last lifetime"
lyon say it is an improveme ut also in point
of convenience"
Eyes, most decidedly so. You see the
pawls on the sides of the ratchet are con-
trolled by this button in the centre of the
handle. Simply sliding the butto4 from one
side Of the plate to the other, throws one
|
the ratchet, changing from right to left
hand action instantly or. by leaving the
button midway, the blade remains stationary,
like a common driver"
''This is of course great advantage"
eyes this direct action of the rachel allows
the pressure to be retained against the screw
as firmly while turning the hand back as
when turning the screw ahead. Then again
retaining the pressure continuously, of course
enables one to carry the hand much steadier,
and the blade is far less liable to slip out of
the slot and mar the work"
OF course such a genuine Yankee tool, as
this must heave good sale in New England"
"Well that WAS what | though would be
the case before | commenced to manufacture
them, but my experience has proved other
wise. Our Western trade is far ahead of our
New England trade Of course, as would
naturally DE expected New OK Is our pest
market, and next t that comes ST. Louis, and
| then Boston and Chicago. | had expected
that Massachusetts would be one of our best
States but we sell ten tools in St. Louis to
every one we sell in Boston. In fact our
California and export trade are both ahead of
our trade in New England.
SIS your firm the only one that manufac-
, lures the rachel driver?"
"No. there are several other firms which
are manufacturing patents of the same ma
lure. About year after we started into our
business two gentlemen, Messrs. Mallett and
Furbush, got out patent on a ratchet
driver and started mandatory in this city.
They ran about a year The firm was then
changed to Hamlen and Furbush and later
on Furbush and Stevens. About year ago
these gentlemen retired from the business
and left US in possession of the field"
"Your invention was the first one that
made use of the ratchet, was it not?'
mo. | was somewhat surprised upon
completing my invention to find, by an ex-
animation of the patent records, that the idea
of ratchet had been entertained nearly
twenty years before, and had been tried by
several inventors ssnce. These parties all
followed the same general plan, however,
which was to locate the ratchet in the ferule.
In order to gain the requisite amount of
strength by this method they were obliged to
make the ferule very large and the result
was very bungling tool This was my
idea when l began my experiments. l
soon found, however, that this wouldn't
work 1t finally occurred to me
that there was a good deal of unutilzed space
in the handle, and that here was the place to
locate my machinery. Following out this
idea soon produced the present driver. l at
bad fhp n a
cured patent and commenced manufacturing
them, in company with my present partner,
Mr. John II. Parsons"
"You are not obliged then to enlarge the
handle in order to make your driver 7"
"No we use an ordinary sized handle like
this" continued Mr. Gay handing the report.
err one which was all mortised and ready for
the blade. "you will notice that it is
small, well proportional and hasa good taper.
1t can be held easily in the hand and by having
the machinery so high up much greater
purchase is obtained. BY the way what kind
of wood should you say that handle was made
of ?"
Ebony"
at looks like it doesn't it 1t is one of the
hest limitations OF ebony which have ever
seen. The wood is rock maple however. The
real ebony, besides being expensive, would
not be tough enough for our purpose. These
handles, however. are very dursble.'
"Have you always been located here Mr.
Gay ?"
No we were formerly upon the op-
posite side of the river. but
we moved Here in order to obtain the power
This is an excellent power As we do not do
any work in wood water power is much less
extensive for us than steam. We could
scarcely afford in our business to run an
engine of our own. land speaking of pow
ers." continued Mr. Gay. zone of the needs
of the city is large building with good
mower which could be let out to the smaller
manufacturers If there were such ouild-
ING here. aud there is ample chance for 1t
number of smaller industries could be
readily attracted to the place, and would add
very much to the growth and prosperity OF
the CITY. Iii one of the things which
believe the future is destined to bring to
Augusta.
"Tm glad YOU came in added Mr.. Gay as
the reporter was leaving, ''snd if you come
in again later on you will find business
more rushing with u.s." And the reporter
left we'll satisfied with his visit, ana more
convinced than ever of the duty of Augusta
citizens to give an earnest support to those
men who starting with nothing save their
own industry and brain have built up sub